How to Enjoy Your Own Company and Embrace Alone Time

In a world that often glorifies hustle, group activities, and social connection, it’s easy to overlook the value of solitude. But embracing alone time isn’t about isolation it’s about discovering how fulfilling your own company can truly be. Learning to enjoy time with yourself doesn’t mean you’re antisocial or avoiding connection. It means you’re investing in your well-being, creativity, and self-awareness.

Experts say that carving out solo time is just as essential to your mental health as nurturing your relationships. “Enjoying your own company means that you're connected to yourself when you're alone you’re ‘with yourself’ and not just ‘by yourself,’” says Virginia Thomas, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Middlebury College. That sense of ease and purpose during alone time can reduce stress, sharpen creativity, and help you reconnect with what truly matters to you.

Ready to feel good in your own presence? Here’s how to get started without falling into loneliness.

1. Put Solo Time on the Calendar

Just like you’d plan dinner with friends or a morning workout, schedule time with yourself. “Carve out the time, put it on the calendar, and honor that solitude date,” Dr. Thomas says. Blocking out personal time even just 30 minutes helps you prioritize yourself and shift from viewing alone time as a luxury to seeing it as a necessity.

2. Identify and Remove Obstacles

Before diving into solo activities, think about what gets in the way. Is it your to-do list? Caregiving responsibilities? A tendency to scroll and compare on social media? “It’s helpful to consider what obstacles stand in the way of enjoying our own company,” says Shainna Ali, PhD, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor. That awareness helps you make small changes, like hiring a sitter or setting your phone aside, so you can make the most of your alone time.

3. Let Go of Productivity Pressure

We live in a culture that ties worth to output. But alone time doesn’t have to “accomplish” anything to be worthwhile. “Don’t waste it doing things you think you ‘should’ be doing cleaning, emails, returning calls,” says Dr. Thomas. Instead, choose activities that bring you joy or help you recharge, whether that’s reading, journaling, or simply doing nothing.

4. Use Solitude to Lower Stress

If your goal is stress relief, be intentional about making your alone time restorative. That could look like taking a walk in the park, soaking in a bath, or simply sitting in silence with a cup of tea. Experiment with different methods until you find what soothes your nervous system best.

5. Tap Into Creativity

Solo time can also be an invitation to start something creative without judgment or distraction. Write, paint, knit, build, sketch whatever feels engaging. “Creative projects are a great way to experience flow and connection to yourself,” Dr. Thomas says.

6. Take It Outside

Nature is one of the most powerful (and accessible) ways to connect with yourself. A 2016 study found that spending time in green spaces is linked to reduced stress and anxiety. Take a book to the park, stroll a nearby trail, or simply sit outside and observe. The quiet of the outdoors naturally encourages reflection and calm.

Yes, It’s Normal to Struggle With Alone Time

If alone time feels uncomfortable, you’re not broken. “It’s common to become disconnected from the hobbies and interests that once brought us joy,” says Dr. Ali. Cultural expectations and daily responsibilities often push solo pleasure to the bottom of the priority list. But reconnecting with something you loved in childhood painting, dancing, daydreaming can help reignite a sense of comfort in your own company.

Solitude vs. Loneliness: What’s the Difference?

Although they’re often conflated, being alone isn’t the same as being lonely. “You can be surrounded by people and still feel disconnected, or you can be alone and feel deeply at peace,” says Dr. Ali. Loneliness is more about disconnection than it is about being physically by yourself.

Solitude, on the other hand, is a choice and one that offers real benefits. “In solitude, we are able to restore our energy, be creative, express our emotions, and reconnect with our authentic selves,” Dr. Thomas explains.

Recent research from Scientific Reports confirms this: people who chose to spend time alone were less likely to experience loneliness than those who were alone without intention. The key is moderation meaningful connection still matters, but solo time can support, not replace, it.

The Bottom Line

Enjoying your own company is a skill worth cultivating. It can help reduce stress, spark creativity, build self-awareness, and improve emotional resilience. Whether it’s a solo walk, a creative hour, or simply time spent doing something you love, embracing your alone time can be just as nourishing as time spent with others.

If this helped you rethink alone time, share it or subscribe to our newsletter for more mindful living ideas.